If not now, when? The Rams’ are ailing on offense. Running back Todd Gurley has yet to break 85 yards this season and quarterback Jared Goff has been good in small doses but remains in search of a breakout performance. It’s possible that it’s just not ever going to happen for the Rams’ offense, but this is a great opportunity. The Falcons allow 27.6 points per game, fourth-worst in the NFL, and 381.7 yards per game, the league’s sixth-worst average. Teams throw on the Falcons a lot (40.7 attempts per game), in part because Atlanta’s offense lends toward high-scoring games, and the Falcons have recorded only seven interceptions in 12 games. Goff missed a practice this week because of an apparent illness, but if he’s healthy and the Rams’ receivers can bounce back from their drop-fest last Sunday in New England, this could be Goff’s best chance to shine this season. Goff will have to keep one eye on linebacker Vic Beasley, who has recorded 10.5 sacks this season, second-most in the NFL. EDGE: RAMS

FALCONS OFFENSE vs. RAMS DEFENSE

After consecutive weeks of slicing and dicing by New Orleans’ Drew Brees and New England’s Tom Brady, the Rams now face Atlanta quarterback Matt Ryan. Ryan attempts 34.5 passes per game, on the low end for an elite quarterback, but leads the NFL with an average of 9.2 yards per attempt. He’s second in the league in passing yards (3,813) and third in touchdowns (27). The hope for the Rams is that Ryan has wobbled a bit of late, with four touchdowns and three interceptions in his last three games. If the Rams are to win this game, wisdom dictates that they’ll need to win the turnover battle. The Falcons have extraordinary offensive balance. They’ve passed the ball 284 times and run it 309. Running back Devonta Freeman, who had a 1,000-yard season in 2015, increasingly is sharing carries with Tevin Coleman. In last week’s loss to Kansas City, Freeman had 15 carries while Coleman had 12. Both backs are threats to catch the ball, and oh by the way, Atlanta also has NFL leading receiver Julio Jones. EDGE: FALCONS

SPECIAL TEAMS

Falcons kicker Matt Bryant is 41 years old but remains practically automatic. Bryant is 27 for 29 on field-goal attempts this season, with his only two misses coming from beyond 50 yards, and Bryant has missed only one of 38 extra-point attempts. Things continue to hum along nicely for Rams kicker Greg Zuerlein, but does he have some issues at the Coliseum? Zuerlein has made all six of his field-goal attempts on the road but has missed three of his 13 attempts at home. Rams punter Johnny Hekker added to his legend last week with a 76-yard punt, to go with his 78-yarder three weeks prior in New York. The Falcons have yet to return a kickoff or punt for a touchdown this season, while the Rams could get a boost with the return of returner Tavon Austin, who missed last week with a chest injury. Look for rookies Michael Thomas and Pharoh Cooper to get increased work on the Rams’ kickoff team. EDGE: FALCONS

COACHING

Things are getting increasingly weird for the Rams’ Jeff Fisher. He went from a public spat with Eric Dickerson to leaked news of a two-year contract extension to odd comments about his own general manager, Les Snead, that he had to re-explain. If the Rams lose this game, Fisher will finish with a losing record for a sixth consecutive season. Atlanta’s Dan Quinn, former defensive coordinator under Pete Carroll in Seattle, is nearing the end of his second season. It’s been an odd, brief tenure. The Falcons started 5-0 under Quinn last season, then suffered a 1-7 midseason stretch and missed the playoffs. Is history repeating? The Falcons started 4-1 this season but are 3-4 since and have dropped two of their last three. Quinn has a defensive background but the Falcons have thrived under 36-year-old offensive coordinator Kyle Shanahan (son of Mike Shanahan), who is in his second season. EDGE: FALCONS

INTANGIBLES

Good teams force turnovers and the Rams, well, they do not. They did at one point this season. Through the first four games of the season, the Rams had four interceptions and five fumble recoveries. They also had a 3-1 record. In their last eight games, they’ve recorded only two interceptions and two fumble recoveries, and they went 1-7 in those games. The Rams have a minus-6 turnover margin, tied for sixth-worst in the NFL. The Falcons are in the league’s upper half, with a plus-3 margin. Will there be any road rust for Atlanta? The Falcons played consecutive home games and also had a bye week, so they haven’t been on the road since Nov. 13 and haven’t left their time zone since Oct. 16. EDGE: FALCONS

MATCHUP TO WATCH

Rams LB Alec Ogletree vs. Falcons RB Devonta Freeman: Falcons receivers Julio Jones and Mohamed Sanu have been banged up, and third third-leading receiver is Freeman, who has caught 37 balls out of the backfield and scored two touchdowns. Ogletree has good ball awareness and excellent speed from sideline to sideline, but the Rams are only two weeks removed from getting beat by New Orleans on a couple notable screen passes. Of course, Ogletree also must keep an eye on Freeman carrying the ball. Freeman is a 5-foot-8, 206-pound bowling ball who averages 4.5 yards per carry, and even though he’s been held in check, yardage-wise, in his last two games, he has four touchdowns in his last 31 carries.

PREDICTION: FALCONS 28, RAMS 24

A loss officially would eliminate the Rams from playoff contention and doom them to their 10th consecutive losing season. That’s remarkable, but there is a path to victory for the Rams. They would have to emulate Philadelphia, which succeeded with an aggressive defense and beat Atlanta 24-15 last month. It’s tough to see the Rams winning a shootout, because where’s the evidence that it’s possible? More likely, the Rams will show some spark offensively, and Goff will have a strong game in his fourth NFL start, but once again the Rams will be in a close game in the fourth quarter and come up short. The Rams might have a chance if they can force multiple turnovers, but they haven’t done that since Oct. 2.

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